Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk Russia on May 7th 1840. His family were relatively well off and the young Tchaikovsky showed promise in both music and languages from a very early age. It has been reported that Tchaikovsky could read music adeptly from the age of just 8 years old. He began taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and it is said that he told his parents that he was kept awake at night by music flowing through his mind. Tchaikovsky's mother died of cholera when he was 14 years old, and it is said he never got over losing his mother.
Tchaikovsky's parents sent him to the School of Jurisprudence when he was 10 years old to prepare him for a career in the civil service. They did not fully realize the extent of their gifted son's talents and felt he needed to be prepared for a stable future. While at the school Tchaikovsky all but dropped his musical studies, but after his graduation in 1859 he took up the study of music once again, taking lessons at the St Petersburg Conservatory. Rediscovering his deep passion for music Tchaikovsky resigned from his civil service job in 1863 to study music at the Conservatory full time.
Freed from his job in the civil service Tchaikovsky was once again able to return to the full time study of music. He enrolled at the St Petersburg Conservatory and was mentored by Anton Rubenstein the director and founder of the Conservatory. Tchaikovsky learned instrumentation and composition under Rubenstein and graduated with flying colors from the conservatory in 1865.
Tchaikovsky's music became widely known and well regarded between 1875 and 1892. Noted for its melodic qualities Tchaikovsky is perhaps best known for his compositions for classical ballet. During this time Tchaikovsky wrote his ballet masterpiece's Swan Lake in 1876, Sleeping Beauty in 1889 and The Nutcracker in 1892. Tchaikovsky's personal life was more troubled however and at one point he entered into an ill-fated 9-week marriage.
Tchaikovsky never got over the loss of his mother and suffered much emotional turmoil throughout his life. Although his private life was troubled he continued to enjoy great success professionally and travelled to many places. In 1891 he toured America conducting his works but conducting was never something he felt comfortable doing. Pathetique, Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony received its premiere in October 1893 but was initially met with a lukewarm reception. Eventually the piece received much greater acclaim.
Tchaikovsky died from cholera it is believed he contracted it after drinking contaminated water. He died in St Petersburg on November the 6th 1893. Tchaikovsky would never know that his symphony Pathetique would go on to receive great success as his death came only one week after its premiere.
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Article: Tchaikovsky: A Leading Light In Opera Author: Mark Walters Publication Date: 2010-10-21 Total Views: 174 Word Count: 461 Category:Home /
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